Rebecca Đuran-Šilėnas

My name is Rebecca Đuran-Šilėnas, and I am an artist from Croatia, born in 1991. I hold both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Painting from the Academy of Applied Arts in Rijeka, as well as a Master’s degree in Photography and Media Art from the Vilnius Academy of Arts. During my studies, I also participated in an Erasmus exchange at the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow, where I studied painting during the 2013/2014 academic year.

Throughout my studies and in my theses, I focused on creating participatory artworks that explored the relationships between the artist and society, often through interactive installations completed by the viewer’s participation.

In painting, I have always been drawn to color and light. Growing up surrounded by the sun, the sea, and the vivid hues of the Croatian coast, I developed a deep appreciation for how colors can evoke emotions and memories. Through my paintings, I aim to bring a piece of that heritage into the world, by transforming canvases into explorations of harmony and balance, small oases of beauty and calm.

Over the years, I have exhibited in Croatia and abroad, including at the XVIII Biennale of Drawings in Belgrade, the 9th Croatian Triennale of Aquarelle, and the 2nd Drawing Biennale in Pula, as well as holding a solo exhibition at Menų Spaustuvė in Vilnius. Artworks have found homes around the world, from the USA and Canada to Spain, Mexico, France, Germany, Italy, Australia, and many more.

Today, I live in Vilnius, Lithuania, where I work as a full time painter in my art studio.

Education:

2017. – 2019.

Master’s Degree

Photography and Media Art

Vilnius Academy of Arts

Vilnius, Lithuania

2015. – 2017.

Master’s Degree

Painting Department

Academy of Applied Arts 

Rijeka, Croatia

2011. – 2015.

Bachelor’s Degree

Painting Department

Academy of Applied Arts

Rijeka, Croatia

2013. – 2014.

Erasmus exchange

Painting department

Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts

Krakow, Poland